South Gippsland

There's been good rain, the Snowy is filled at last
Water levels are high and it's flowing fast
It's all downhill to Marlo and the sea
Then Ros announces, "No way! Not me!"
"No way am I paddling on the Snowy River
I might get wet. Could be bad for my liver.

So we checked out the Brodribb, current is slow.
Launch near Marlo, paddle against the flow
(but first .....)
Now Frithjof and Fangfah have an inflatable boat
I'm glad that I don't and am happy to gloat,
'Cos pumping it up can be quite fraught
Especially if your dangly bit gets caught.
In future I'm sure Frithjof will tuck it in
So it doesn't get stuck in pump handle thing.
Short stop at a jetty then on to Lake Curlip
But when we get there Pat drops her lip
"No way, I'm not paddling in Curlip Lake
I'm paddling Cabbage Tree Creek to have a lunch break.
(meanwhile...)
Katie was not as well as she'd like to be
They launched later and headed to Cabbage Tree
We meet up and chat as we drift with the flow
Black ducks, Reed Warblers, the day seems to glow.

Yeerung River is the paddle we do on Day Two
Paddling together, enjoying the view
(but first...)
Fangfah pumping "sounds like an asthmatic donkey"
Frithjof: "I mean the pump, it's not Fangfah that's wonky."
Kayaks dodging snags, bumping over logs
Kingfishers, swallows and croaking of frogs
Stopped by a log, we turn and head for the sea
To an incredible sight that astonishes we
A fisherman, it seems, has pulled out the plug
Lagoon waters gush out, a tannin stained flood.

Ros and Pat's paddle adventure on Day Three
To find secret lake upstream on Cabbage Tree.
Paula and I, alone and quite free
Flow with the Snowy all the way to the sea.

Steve Horton (apologies to all those he may have offended)